Image courtesy of http://nemasket.blogspot.com

The South Middleboro Grange, located in the heart of Middleboro’s newest National Register District, will host a celebration Dec. 5 where the district will be officially introduced to the public and certificates will be presented to the owners of buildings and landmarks that are contributing elements to the district.

The National Park Service gave its approval this past summer to the South Middleboro National Register District, which encompasses all of the public buildings along Route 28 in South Middleboro as well as 29 homes on Wareham Street (Route 28) Spruce and Locust streets that were constructed between 1800 and around 1952.

The celebration will take place at the South Middleboro Grange Hall on Route 28, beginning at 11 a.m. with a brief talk by Historical Commission Vice Chairman Michael Maddigan, who prepared the town’s application for the district to be designated a national landmark. Certificates approved by the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which in turn submitted the town’s application to the National Park Service, will be presented to all those property owners in attendance. Invitations were mailed to the owners of contributing buildings in the district this week.

Two other National Register districts were approved in 200. The Middleborough Center National Register District includes the business district and homes on North and South Main Street as well as some of the side streets in the immediate downtown area. The Muttock Historic and Archaeological District focuses on Oliver Mill Park and includes the Oliver and Washburn houses on the other side of Route 44 from the park as well as homes on North and Nemasket streets.

The new district emcompasses about 88 acres and includes 75 contributing elements — buildings and landmarks such as the South Middleboro Cemetery — including buildings and sites that date from the late 18th to mid-20th century.
The public buildings in the district include the South Middleboro United Methodist Church, the South Middleboro Fire Station, the former South Middleboro School, now owned by the South Middleboro Protective Association, as well as the Grange Hall.

The National Register designation is largely honorary but does offer some benefits to property owners. Any projects involving federal, state or municipal funding must assess the possible adverse impact on buildings and sites in a district. Income-producing property in a National Register district can be eligible for federal tax credits when renovations or expansion is being planned. There are no restrictions on property owners in a National Register district.

Source: Taunton Gazette, November 30, 2009